Staff survey

GNM will be undertaking its next employee-wide survey in Autumn of 2009.

The last staff survey was held last year during the middle of GNM's company wide reorganisation.

More than 1,200 filled in the questionnaire, representing 70% of the workforce.

The results showed that despite the upheaval, the majority of staff understood the need for change and that it had not dented their enormous pride in working for GNM.

Nearly 90% of staff are proud to work for GNM with only 2% disagreeing - way above the industry average - with similar numbers saying they choose to put in extra effort over and above their basic job requirements.

Other high scores included 78% who feel the Scott Trust protection enables us to maintain high journalistic standards, 82% who would recommend GNM as an employer, 86% who say their working environment is friendly, and 82% who understand why GNM is restructuring the business.

On the flip-side, employees continued to be disappointed about career progression, pay transparency and appraisals, issues which have been highlighted as weaknesses ever since the surveys were introduced several years ago.

Some of the lower scores were 41% saying they do not know how their pay is determined (although only a third state that they have actively sought clarity on this), 28% saying they do not know who to ask about career development, 30% not getting regular feedback on their work performance, 31% who are unclear about who is accountable for making decisions in GNM and 25% who believe people are not held accountable for their decisions.

Tim Brooks, managing director, said when the results were announced: "The timing of the survey was deliberately chosen to coincide with the period of change to check the pulse of the organisation.

"I was delighted by it and also disappointed. Given the fact that we are putting the people within GNM through a hell of a lot of change, some of it not welcome, we were expecting some poor results. But on fundamentals, the scores were as high if not higher for questions asking why the company is changing and whether staff were proud to work for GNM and would recommend it as an employer."